Upper School

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Preparing for a Lifetime of Success

Students in our Upper School have an abundance of opportunities to excel and lead through rigorous academics, competitive athletics and extracurriculars. Highly trained faculty challenge students to reach their full potential. We offer 24 Advanced Placement classes, the unique-in-city Schiff Family Science Research Institute, a number of signature programs and an emphasis on character-based leadership and creative problem-solving.

Experience The Summit

As an independent school, we continue our founding traditions as a Notre Dame community. The heart of our mission is to educate leaders of character who will value and improve the world they inherit. Here in a warm, inclusive culture, every child is known, their God-given talents are valued and relationships flourish.

Academic Excellence

High expectations deliver outstanding results

Academic Excellence

High Expectations Deliver Outstanding Results.

Highly-trained faculty

has an average of 20 years teaching experience.

small class sizes

often delivered in seminar-style.

High-impact instructional best practices

result in 100% of graduating class accepted to colleges. Alumni report they are better prepared than their peers for college.

A rigorous, mission-centered curriculum

delivered through college preparatory classes including 24 Advanced Placement classes.

Learn more About How we Deliver on our Promise for Academic Excellence at Every Developmental Stage

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others. We intentionally teach social skills and provide ample opportunities for students to practice them.

Orff Music

Character Education

Kindness is the foundation for Character Education in the Montessori School. Children learn how to greet each other and share materials, teachers stress the importance of having a peaceful classroom and to appreciate diversity.

World Language

Writing

Writing at The Summit begins in our toddler classrooms where students trace sandpaper letters as they sound out the letters - aah, buh, cuh. Before they move on to first grade, they've written short stories on what it would be like to be an alien.

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others. We intentionally teach social skills and at the earliest age provide ample opportunities for students to foster relationships.

Tailored Instruction

The gift of The Summit education is that we individualize our instruction in ways that challenge students to develop the specific skills they need for success. Under the careful guidance of highly-skilled faculty, our Montessori students engage in work with natural curiosity and self-direction that helps them develop a love of learning.

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others. We intentionally teach social skills and provide ample opportunities for students to practice them.

Band

Advisement

Every adolescent needs a personal champion. Our Advisement program gives our kids that, plus the knowledge that they are not alone in a tightly knit group of peers who are experiencing the same developmental, social, emotional, physical and academic needs.

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others. We intentionally teach social skills and provide ample opportunities for students to practice them.

Science Research Institute

Students in the Schiff Family Science Research Institute engage in real-world research with working scientists, giving them an advantage when they seek competitive college laboratory positions. Some of our students have carried on their research in college, have been published and received patents.

Chapel Talks

Chapel Talks are the capstone experience of our formal oratory and leadership curricula. The talks are poignant, enlightening and surprising. They reflect the diversity of experiences, perspectives and backgrounds of our student body.

Character Education

Character Education is the heart of our Notre Dame learning community. Our Upper School students reflect on patience, humility, compassion and gratitude in classroom lessons, hands-on service learning, team-building exercises and other experiences.

Social Skills

There is no more foundational premise than this: God created us to be social beings – to live in relation and in community with others. We intentionally teach social skills and provide ample opportunities for students to practice them.

Student Life

Leadership is taught and practiced as students engage in opportunities that range from student government, school dances, tutoring of inner-city students, making meals for the homeless and launching rockets from Williams Field. Some students may choose to serve Mass or compete in statewide competitions in math, science, languages and social studies. Others will dance in the chorus of the spring musical. Others will choose competitive athletics. And other students will dance in the chorus of the spring musical or choose to be part of competitive athletic teams.

Leadership

What differentiates The Summit from other schools not only the opportunity to participate in an array of activities but many changes to step up to the call of leadership. Our Student Leadership Board is comprised of representatives of our various clubs and organizations who work with faculty and staff moderators to provide programming with the intention to advance The Summit’s mission and Upper School themes.

Clubs

Summit culture encourages students to stretch beyond their comfort zone and explore new interests. We want all students find something that interests them, and if not, we encourage our students to start something new. Clubs are student-led, and so they vary from year to year.